Bhagalpur, April 3: A special wine made from litchis might be available within the next couple of months if scientists of Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour, Bhagalpur, are to be believed.

Sonia Kumari, a scientist of the varsity under whose direction research was on to make wine from litchi, said: “Within the next two months, litchi wine could be available here.” She said the project was earlier launched at Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa, Samastipur but now it has been shifted to Bhagalpur.

“This time, we expect a bumper litchi production as trees have flowered profusely. If required, we would source more litchi from Muzaffarpur,” she said. She added the post-harvest period of the fruit was very short and the varsity had devised a plan to prepare litchi wine to prevent wastage.

She said the litchi wine is available in the market at Rs 1,000-Rs 1,500 per litre. She said the scientists assigned the project here were busy developing bacteria from natural sources like toddy, gum of jalebee (a fruit), yeast, apple and others.

The natural bacteria would help complete the fermentation process to prepare alcohol for litchi wine. Eight to twelve per cent of the alcohol would be mixed with 100ml litchi juice for making the wine.

Rajesh Kumar, the public relations officer of the varsity, said the project would be completed by June and the varsity would also train up farmers.

The state government, on the other hand, has approved 724 posts at the varsity and also has sanctioned Rs 29 crore for financial year 2010-11.

BAU vice-chancellor Mebalal Choudhury hopes the project would provide income opportunities among the litchi cultivators here. He said the government has also initiated for making it a model university of Bihar. He said the government would sanction Rs 97 crore for financial year 2011-12 for the varsity and the target expenditure of Rs 992.86 crore by the government on the university would be completed.

The amount would be released on the progress of different projects and also on the basis of detailed project report, Choudhury said. The government has a target to spend Rs 992.86 crore for developing infrastructure like buildings, classrooms and laboratories in the varsity.

He said the government has also approved important posts in the varsity like that of the librarian, associate director, director in action research, deputy director in training and deputy controller.

Besides, the government also has approved the posts of 196 teachers. Twenty-eight posts of professors, 56 posts of associate professors and 112 posts of assistant professors were also approved. The varsity has a plan to start four to five new departments soon.

The varsity is focusing on the proposed centre of excellence for extensive research on quality maize production. “Retired scientist of Pusa Agriculture College P.B. Jha has been assigned to complete the detailed project report for the centre of excellence,” Choudhury said.